Islam & Productivity

Sadaqah: The Productive Investment of a Lifetime

What if I told you about an offer where you can get the product, plus double your money back, plus extra prizes? What would you do? You’d probably immediately text all your friends to tell them about it and then rush down to the shop to make the purchase.

While many of us tend to chase after special offers and reduced prices in this dunya (world), we often overlook the fact that Allah has offered us an even better deal that will benefit us both in this dunya and the akhira (hereafter). What deal am I talking about? Sadaqah (voluntary charity).

The following points show how this noble act can increase our productivity in this life and in preparing for the next.

1. Sadaqah is a guaranteed investment.

‘Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply it many times?’ [2:245].

The above verse teaches us that by generously giving to the poor and needy, Allah will increase our wealth and blessings in this life, wipe out sin, increase reward and provide shade on the Day of Judgment and more insha’Allah!

What more could we ask for? Money back, profit, good health, barakah (blessings) in our wealth, shade on the Day of Judgement, sadaqah is definitely the best investment for our dunya and akhira.

Forget special offers, reduced prices and buy one get one free deals – a productive Muslim knows the ultimate best way to spend his/her wealth – in the way of Allah.

2. Sadaqah is a means of gaining barakah in your wealth.

It may be hard for us to give sadaqah when we are barely able to make ends meet. However, it is reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet said:

Charity does not decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives, Allah adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).”

and

”There is not a day in which the obedient slaves rise in the morning except that two angels descend, and one of them says: ‘O Allaah! Compensate the one who spends.’ The other angel says: ‘O Allaah! Destroy the wealth of the one who is niggardly.”

If we truly believe and apply these hadiths, we will come to learn that we can never lose from giving sadaqah, but instead we gain immensely from it.

However, gaining from sadaqah may not always be in a physical form. When we give sadaqah, it doesn’t necessarily mean that our salaries will increase or we will miraculously stumble upon a goldmine. It may mean that Allah will put barakah into our wealth and possessions instead. By regularly giving sadaqah, we will quickly notice that although we are still spending the same amount of money on the same expenses, we will still have plenty left insha’Allah.

Giving sadaqah can also put barakah in our time and personal matters. We may find that after giving sadaqah, Allah will ease all our affairs.

If you have been trying to save up for something, or if you have debt that you haven’t been able to repay, or if you have a goal that you just haven’t been able to achieve; as a productive Muslim you should set aside a portion of your salary every month for sadaqah – even if it’s a very small amount. The difference it will make in your life will be worth it insha’ Allah.

3. Sadaqah serves as a means of reaping continuous rewards after your death.

When we work for something that will grant us benefit in this worldly life (e.g. a promotion, etc.), we tend to put in a lot of time, effort and sometimes money in order to achieve our goals.

A productive Muslim does the same for the akhira. He/she invests time, hard work and money in activities that will bring great reward, and some that will continue to benefit him even after death.

Why not invest money in building a mosque, digging a well, opening a school, planting a tree or any other form of sadaqah jariyah (ceaseless charity)?

“When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased)” [Muslim].

If you’ve provided money to build a well, you will be rewarded for every single drop of water drunk from it while you’re alive and after your death until the Day of Judgment insha’Allah. If you contribute to building a mosque, you will be rewarded for every single prayer performed in it. If you put in the time and effort to teach someone Qur’an or some form of knowledge, you will be rewarded every time that person recites the Qur’an or shares the knowledge with someone else.

SubhanAllah. Imagine the reward you will find reserved for you in the akhira, perhaps it will take you to higher and higher stations of Jannah by His Mercy!

Sadaqah is a special offer from Allah that stands as long as we’re alive. Make sadaqah a productive habit this Ramadan, and a habit throughout your life before it’s too late!

”And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous; Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good” [3:133-134]

May Allah, The Most Generous, make us from those who give regular sadaqah and may He accept it from us. Ameen.

Zaineb Shebani, a Libyan native, was born and spent her childhood years in California. She holds a Masters degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the U.K and has worked as an English teacher in Libya, the UK and Oman. She enjoys writing articles for various Islamic websites.

Abu Productive is the nickname of the founder & CEO of ProductiveMuslim.com, Mohammed Faris. He is an international speaker, author, and coach dedicated to boosting productivity in the Ummah. Currently, he's authoring a book on Islam & Productivity which will be released in the 2nd half of 2015.

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Mashallah! Oh yes. I personally experience this ROI (return on investment) all the time. There’s been times I was down to my last dime and looked for ways to give sadaqa because I knew of all the rewards that would come back to me. Mashallah it never failed! Check all the stories of our beloved Nabyyun and his Sahabah’s who constantly gave, Allah always doubled tripled and magnified. Excellent article!

Assalamualaikum, I have a question. Can i make loan from islamic bank to make sadakah for big humanatarian project for muslim community in third world county for example building 10 deep water well for 1000+ family?
i’m a working person, i can repay those loan InsyaAllah but i dont have that extra cash to give at one time.

May Allah reward you for your noble intentions. We appreciate your trust in us to answer your question; however, we are not equipped to answer fiqh-related questions. It would be best for you to consult a scholar to get detailed advice on the matter. If you do not know one, you could also try to find the answer to your question on these sites:

AsSalamu alaykum WarahmatuLLAHi WabarakatuHu Insha’ALLA akh AbduLLAH if the loan will not involve interest it will be okay but if it involves interest I would say it will be best for you to spend only what you can afford for in the sight of ALLAH quantity is of no importance so long as the intention is for pleasing ALLAH. In our Deen “The end will never justify the means” it should all complement a Noble means for a Noble cause. however you can initiate other means that doesn’t have to involve interest like organizing a fund raising etc…. Insha’ALLAH ALLAHu ‘Alam JazakumuLLAHu Khairan Katheeran

From my little knowledge loan isn’t a good way. So far I know, Allah is judging you only on your own condition, you don’t need to compare yourself with others. If a rich person can give a thousand dollars and a poor can give just a single penny, then both will be equal in value.

So if you have much money, spend for Allah, if you have little money spend as much as you can, if you don’t have money to spend after fulfilling your needs then just try to help others.

Think someone is in class one and another one is in class 10, is it possible for the student of class one to pass the exam of class 10. syllabus of both student is different, and type of examination is also different. you will just have to pass on your own condition. The situation of each and every person in this world is different. May Allah forgive me if I’m wrong. And Allah knows best.

Have you or your loved ones been sick and loose hope in being healed? Is there any sickness or desease that is consired uncurable? (I am not talking about sickness that is meant to happen to you Allah, sickness that is sabab of your death, no). Sadaqa is the answer, sadaqa will cure and heal you. this is tested and comfirmed.

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